Kabul - January 19, 2026: AfghanAtalan have put on a remarkable all-round performance to beat the West Indies by 38 runs in the first T20I and take a 1-0 lead in the e& Cup T20I series, powered by SuperCola.
Earlier in the evening, the
skipper Rashid Khan won the toss and opted to bat first. Afghanistan lost
Rahmanullah Gurbaz on the very first delivery, and then Sediqullah Atal nicked
one behind to the first slip to go 19/2 in the third over.
Darwish Rasooli (84) then joined
Ibrahim Zadran (87*), and both have put on a terrific batting effort and shared
a record partnership of 162 runs off 106 balls to help AfghanAtalan post 181/3
runs on the board in the first inning.
Their magnificent 162-run
partnership off 106 deliveries marked as the highest third-wicket stand and the
second-highest for any wicket for Afghanistan in T20Is.
In the second inning, Mujeeb Ur
Rahman provided Afghanistan with a terrific start by picking up a wicket in the
very first over. Afghan bowlers continued to chip in with regular wickets and
kept the visitors watchful by reducing them to 50/5 in the 9th over.
Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, who was
playing his second T20I after a gap of 7 years, was the pick of the Afghanistan
bowlers and returned with excellent figures of 3/36 in his 4 overs. Mujeeb Ur
Rahman (), Rashid Khan (), and Noor Ahmad () also bagged two wickets each.
Darwish Rasooli was named the
Player of the Match for his three catches and an incredible inning of 84 runs
off 59 balls that included 8 fours and 2 sixes.
Having completed a 1-0 lead in
the series, AfghanAtalan will meet the West Indies again on Wednesday, January
21, in the second T20I match of the series.